It is spring, on some days even summer here in Virginia. One day it could be 50 degrees another 90. The trees are blooming, the birds are building nests and there is even one in a plant on our front porch. So we figured we will give the mama of 4 eggs some treats, since she has been nice enough to let us peek daily, not even counting the numerous times we scare her by opening the front door. At times we even leave the front porch lights on confusing the bejesus out of her. To make it even more confusing we have painted our front porch moving the tree back and forth on daily bases, making sure not to touch the nest. I am sure the only reason she has not ditched her eggs is because she is too confused to know what is going on. Welcome to motherhood Mama Bird.
So I took an easy fast craft and spread it out to last for at least 2 hours.
Yeah I am that good.
No it did not include tying my kids down to the couch and making them watch Milo and Otis, again.
It did however start with tying my kids up to their car seats and heading to the local Tractor Supply store to get some bird food. I remembered that at this time of the year agricultural stores sell chicks, ducks, bunnies and other super cutie animals. The great part is that you can’t buy less then 6 chicks, for agricultural purposes only.
If like me, you are thinking of buying a duckling, nursing it in your tiny house, and then letting it loose when it grows up, the answer is NO. No matter how much you beg. I know they are SO CUTE.
After we got home with the seeds we had to go for a walk looking for pine cones.
We didn’t go really far since my kids could find plenty in our front yard, even without the digging.
We brought the pine cones home and shmeared them with peanut butter.
Then we rolled them in birdseed
Until they were all covered. I pressed more seed into the pinecones
and tied a piece of string around it
while my kids stared at me and ate peanut butter
After the peanut butter jar was empty we went to hang the bird feeders up.
Authors bio is coming up shortly.
I love these things! I published something similiar in my book, but I used shortening for kids who have nut allergies.
And I definitely want one of those ducklings. good thing they sell them buy the half dozen.
Lovely to see you at the Play Academy again – and I love these pine cones. As for the ducklings – super cute!
We LOVE nature activities (my son and I). We did pine cone bird feeders back in January and I’m surprised how much he liked it (he’s just 2-1/2). The squirrels loved them the most, but also the chickadees. I just did a nature post on my blog about all the critters that come to our yard; which is quite a blessing for a condo out in the suburbs. Looks like you have a great blog. We love posting to the Play Academy too when we get the chance!
I am making some of these this weekend. I have lots of pine cones in my yard, lets put them to use.